Classic Cars - Bits and Pieces Quiz

The Ford Mustang had modest beginnings. Fitting the brief of being a compact sports car, to meet its required 1964 selling price of $2368, it was assembled from other Ford models with modest engines of 170 ci (6 cyl.) and 289 ci (V8). It was labelled a pony car (long hood, short rear deck, two doors) and became the marque for other manufacturers to copy (The Plymouth Barracuda was actually released before the Mustang). The Ford received more powerful options over time and became a muscle car.

It came in three body styles: hardtop, convertible and six months after its 1964 release, a fastback (The photo depicts the famous three-quarter view of the fastback). With over ten million units sold, it is the first Ford model in the US that has been in continuous production for over fifty years.

Similar to what was achieved by Ford, then the largest automobile manufacturer in the world in the late 20s, the Berlin government wanted cars to be accessible by every German family and not seen as the luxury item they were at the time.

Ferdinand Porsche had built a small car he called the Volksauto but could not find an interested manufacturer. His car had an air-cooled rear engine, torsion bar suspension, and a rounded bonnet for improved but necessary aerodynamics as the motor was small. Hitler became involved and wanted a car that met his specifications: a basic vehicle that could transport two adults and three children at 100 km/h. Private industry was still not interested so a state-funded factory was built and the German people could buy the cars on a saving plan of 5 DM per week (The car was priced at 990 DM - the price of a motorcycle - the cost was heavily government subsidised). 336 000 people bought into the scheme but WWII intervened and no one received a car. The plans were adapted to make the car into a military vehicle during WWII. This was the Type 82E

The Volkswagen was produced at a rate of 1000/month. This was the start of something big, The car took off in other markets particularly the US after a slow start. In all one million units were sold in the States. However, the Type 1 (It was never officially called the "Beetle' but this name did appear in advertising programs) had a 1200 cc, 36HP, air-cooled flat-four engine (same specifications as Porsche's original plans). There were marginal increases in power until 1970 when the motor was 1600cc. However, the air-cooled engine no longer suited the US market with the uptake of unleaded petrol and smog controls. Manufacturing was shifted to Brazil where the VW was even more popular than it was in Mexico.

The remarkable issue about the VW was it barely changed specifications during its lifetime. The Golf, a similar-sized car was manufactured alongside the Type 1 starting in 1974. Sales of Type 1 diminished Even when the German factory stopped production, Brazil kept on churning out the Type 1. In all 15.4 million were produced in Germany and 3.4 million in Brazil. In 1997 a new 'Beetle' was released worldwide - a contemporary car but with unmistakable retro styling resembling the original Type 1.

The Model T Ford is arguably the most influential car of all time, making car travel available to middle-class America by being the world's first 'affordable' car. It was built from 1908 to 1927 and with over 15 million cars sold was the world's most popular car until 1972.

Although a car for Everyman, the cheap Model T had some advanced innovations: The car could run on gasoline, kerosene or ethanol; the three-speed transmission, including reverse, was operated by two of the three floor pedals (the throttle was on the steering column); the third pedal was a brake - but it operated on the transmission - there were no brakes on the wheels.

The 'any colour as long as it was black" was not implemented until 1914. Until then cars came in grey, green, blue, and red. Black was not available. The black requirement was a cost issue as carbon black pigment was one of the cheapest available - over the lifetime of the model over thirty types of black paint were used on the car.

Although designated by a single letter, there were several different styles of body offered, including a speedster ('convertible') and an enclosed all-metal cabin designated a 'Tudor' sedan. as well as the conventional sedan.

In 1999, the Model T was named in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, as the 'most influential car of the 20th century'.

The Mini, the mainstay of the British Motor Corporation was manufactured from 1959 to 2000 and is considered an icon of 1960s British popular culture, as British as the Beatles and Carnaby Street. The two-door, four-seat car was so small even by British standards that test models driving around London before release were laughed at, particularly with its small (10-inch) wheels an apparent lack of a boot [pictured] (There was a boot -it was small and the boot hinge was on the lower side so items could 'stick out' . As such, the Mini defied the three-box look of contemporaneous cars. It was just over 3.0 metres (120.2 in) in length.

Because of fuel rationing introduced in Britain due to the Suez Crisis of 1956, the brief to build the car was to have a floorplan that was 80% dedicated to passengers and luggage. To achieve this major innovations were necessary. The motor sat transversely and was front-wheel drive (not well known at the time. The wheels were placed in each corner of the vehicle and the suspension, to save space did not have springs but solid rubber cones. (The 'hydroelastic' suspension (pneumatic) was added in 1964). Everything was designed to save space - the windows were initially sliding type, allowing the doors to be single-skinned, giving more elbow room for passengers. Even the door hinges were mounted externally to maximise interior space.

By the turn of the century, 5.3 million Minis were sold making it by far the most popular British car ever made.

The Rolls Royce brand came about from a partnership between a mechanical engineer and Britain's first car dealer. The first car produced was the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost which was lauded as the best car in the world. The marque produced big luxurious cars, which was unusual in a country that favoured smaller, more austere cars. All Rolls Royce had two distinctive features. A square radiator grill resembling the grill of the first silver Ghost and a bonnet emblem, the Spirit of Ecstasy which according to its creator, represented "the spirit of the Rolls-Royce, namely, speed with silence, absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy and a beautiful living organism of superb grace..."

Pictured is a seventh-generation Rolls Royce Phantom from 2003. This was a typical Rolls Royce: big powerful and luxurious: A massive wheelbase of 3,820 mm (150.4 in), 6,092 mm (239.5in) in length, 1,990 mm (78.3 in) high and a heavy 2,560 kg (5,643.8 lb). Yet its 6.75L V12 motor could accelerate the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds.

In 2017 the Rolls Royce Brand was the second most recognised brand in the world after Coca-Cola.

Citroen had always been an automotive innovator and with the release of the Citroen DS in 1955, their reputation was sealed. It had futuristic aerodynamic styling, it was the first production car to feature hydro-pneumatic suspension (superb ride quality), disc brakes and directional headlights. It was also front-wheel drive - unusual in mass-produced vehicles at the time. It also had the option of a novel semiautomatic gearbox (no clutch, manual gear changes required).

It had a massive 3,124 mm (123.0 in) wheelbase on a car that was 'only' 4,826 mm (190.0 in) long. Over its 20-year lifespan, it sold 1,455,746 units worldwide with 1,330,755 in France. It did not sell well in the US, possibly because of its modestly sized engine (1.9 L) initially, rising to 2.35 L in its later models.

The name DS is a French language pun. "DS" is pronounced 'day-esse', literally 'goddess'. It placed third in the '1999 Car of the Century' poll.

The US government needed a rugged, economical general-purpose vehicle for military purposes in 1940. A competition was held to produce vehicles with the specifications of a 4-wheel drive vehicle, a folding windshield, a payload up to 600 lb (270 kg), on a wheelbase no more than 75 in (1.91 m) and a maximum (collapsible) height of 36 in (91 cm).

American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland entered the competition. Ford joined later. Bantam had the best design but no capacity to build the output required. The US government gave the Bantam blueprints to Willys-Overland and Ford.

During World War II, Willys produced 363,000 Jeeps and Ford 280 000. Military use continued beyond the war with additional specifications, but Willys lobbied to produce the vehicle for civilian use. The Willys model was coined "CJ" for "civilian" and "Jeep", the latter was allowed to be trademarked despite it being used on Fords during the war. Civilian additional features included: A tailgate, wipers and better lighting. This made the Jeep the first civilian 4WD vehicle.

The Jeep's inclusion in this classic car cohort because it influenced so many other models. The British developed the highly successful Land Rover based on the Jeep and together these two vehicles inspired other manufacturers to develop hundreds of 4WDs (and later All Wheel Drive) vehicles which inspired the SUV revolution that displaced sedan as the most popular personal transportation model in the early 21st century.

The Chevrolet Corvette was introduced as a 2-door convertible in 1953. Sales were modest by American standards perhaps because the standard drivetrain was a small six cylinder, 235 ci and a three-speed gearbox.

The second generation 1963-67 introduced a coupe as well as a convertible. The name was changed to Corvette Sting Ray as the styling was based on the Chevrolet Sting Ray concept car from 1959 that was meant for racing. This latter model did not reach production so some of the styling was incorporated into the new Corvette. Of particular note was the fast-back design with the sloping back glass that was split (pictured). The split screen caused visibility issues and the split was removed grim 1964. Also, there was no trunk lid so luggage had to be loaded into the truck via the cabin. The second generation had a 327 ci V8 motor as its lowest spec and had a 427ci V8 as an option. Another distinctive feature was the quad headlamps which were hidden.

Referred to as 'America's sports car', the Corvette was the biggest-selling sports car in 20th century America but in the early 21st century, the model that attracts the highest bidders from collectors is the second generation Corvette especially if it had a split rear screen.

Well, there had to be a Ferrari in there somewhere. The Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta was added because, whilst it is one of the most attractive Ferraris (a feat in itself), it is arguably one of the best-engineered Prancing Horses (cleverly photoshopped out of the picture).

The 250 Series was a collection of several models built between 1952 and 1964. The 250SWB was perhaps the most sporting of the models. Based on a shorter wheelbase of 2400mm (There was a Standard 2600mm wheelbase model), the SWB had better handling than her big sister. Both steel and aluminium models were made. The motor was a 3.0 L (2953.21 cc) Colombo V12 producing 237-276 hp depending on the tuning The combination of low weight, high power and a suspension system that could absorb the demands put upon it made this model a race car favourite. It was the first Ferrari to be fitted with disc brakes (The race car needed them). The SWB Berlinetta won the 1960, 1961 and 1962 Tour de France Automobile. "Sports Car International" in 2004, ranked the 250 GT SWB seventh on a list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. This author would have placed it higher.

Lauded as the "Most Beautiful Car in the World" when launched in 1961, the car still has a timeless beauty. It also had the smarts under the skin as well: It reached 60 mph in less than seven seconds had a (claimed) top speed of 150 mph, and had, independent front and rear suspension, disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. The car also had some innovative construction engineering: It did not have a full chassis as was the main type of car construction of the day but it had a front subframe carrying the engine, front suspension and forward bodywork, The subframe was then bolted to the overall frame of the car. This produced a much lighter car - It weighed only 1,315 kg (2,899 lb)

The car had a production run of 1961-75. There was a convertible, coupe and later (1967) a four-seater coupe (with extended wheelbase). Over 80 000 were made.